The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-01-13
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Annual Message Of Governor For
aser to the Legislature.

state AfFairs Exhaustiveiy Discussed-Im-
portant Recommendations Regard
Ing the Spring Election, Tax
alton and Finances.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
- ~. .CoLUMBus, o. Jan. = 1887.
The recent elections aid much to dispel the
eistrust that has obtained throughout the coun.
e 70 she RSy % to
ESs. EsSsd 70 the Rrotection Of American labor and
loved however @ much 4 may desire i to % do 90, to to
break down that wise and patriotic policy to
which we are e much Indebted for the uhex.
last quarter Of . century. The assurance thus
afforded 10 already benefcially manifesting
With oompiese restoration M pess Of CONFIDENCE IN
thfs regard, there will be o full return Of that
commercial and industrial activity which will
happy contentment to oil classes Of our people.
Tnis is just cause OF congratulaton for oil.
But you ore 70 be further congratulated. Ex-
Of your labOrs at the last session.
When you convened, the most dificult and
@ sne most important duty presented related to
The question Of "a free ballot and fair
count" was before you in an Immediate and
Men had been returned, as elected to both
branches Of your body, who had no shadow Of
claim TO the seats they held, except by virtue Of
open, notorious and conceded frauds at the
polls and in the returns. And not only had the
very foundations Of free popular government
more alarming was the manifestation Of wide
spread and wickod determination to defend
these iniquities, and, II possible. for the mere
sake OF partisan advantage, appropriate their
% Your first duty was to give enect to the
viii OF the people as 1t had been ex-
body Of those SO wrongfully returned
as members; and your second highest duty was
greatest degree possible against repetition Of
such crimes.
You discharged both duties well. The mem
and repetition Of the % Rumiiiating i I experiences
through which you were compelled to pass was
guarded against by the enactment Of better elec-
tion laws applicable to the cities where those
troubles arose, and where similar ones were
likely to occur in the future The Pugsey law,
which you ilrst enacted and , made applicable to
and Toledo, gave great satisfaction, but 1t was
not sufficiently complete to fully guard against
to Cincinnati and Cleveland, followed. This
statute cannot DO too highly commended 1t
has given universal and unqualified satisfaction
TO oil well-meaning citizens OF both political
parties. II has enabled the people Of Cincinnati
TO have quiet decent and honest election. 1t
Is not known how to express for IT higher or
commend 1t, argument is unnecessary to show
that 1t should be ut once extended to all the
larger cities OF the State, especially to Colum
The slightly increased expense, trouble and
Inconvenience OF registration are amply COM
secures orderly elections, with honest results
and without any investigations or election con-
tests, with their attendant expenses and rri-
incident to o political canvass. While You are
considering the subject OF elections, there is
another matter to which you should give atten-
huar ly lSan oh lice ctf,,,
in tho newspapers OF the State concerning the
advisabiiity OF abolishing April or spring cleo
tions
1t is difflcult in view OF the experience we
have hnd, to assign any satisfactory reason for
having two elections annually. 1t will save ex.
pense, timo, labor and excitement to have all
our elections for each year on the same day.
Tho constitution has been amended as to
admit of provision to that effect, and 1t is &C.
eordingly recommended that you enact 1t.
1t is further recommended that you give due
consideration to the suggestion that has been
mado that II we have all our elections on the
same day. that dny should be made legal holi-
day. We cannot attach too much importance
10 the elective franchise
When oil these safeguards have been adopted,
there Is one other matter OF great Importance
that should receive consideration. At your
last session o practical demonstration was
afforded Of the fact that the State government
by d sufficient number of the members Of either
branch Of your body abandoning their seats and
and e. 1Ra the
cured to the legislative mind to anticipate any
such action: AS q consequence, when o num-
Der OF tho Senators saw fit to take such o step
during the last session. 1t was discovered that
there were no legal means whereby they might
be brought back, or otherwise proceeded against.
State official who abandons Els post Of duty and
goes beyond the State to avoid being compelled
T. shall be deemed guilty Of an
to extradition upon the reQuisition Of the Gov
srnor.
to you also for the law enacted at your last ses-
sion, providing for the organization and govern
ment, in that city, of the police force by Board
Of Commissioners and the Mayor.
The board appointed under that law have, in
connection with the Mayor Of that city, labored
with great earnestness, constancy and success
the police force Of that city is to-day equal in
discipline and efficiency to the police force OF
any city in the country.
Both this police law and the election laws
that have been mentioned, are non partisan In
character, there being on each board an equal
number Of members from each Of the two polit-
ical parties. This Is as 1t should be. Whatever
may be said Of non-partsan boards and legisla-
Non concerning other subjects, the elections and
constabulary should be always equally controlled
by both parties, no matter which may be in
power. It is Of the utmost Importance that we
not only have honest elections, but that oil par
YES have ts en- IN their fairness to the end
cence in the results This can be best obtained
by equal participation and cooperation in oil
frage. In every Iarge city the police % are an i'm inn.
portant feature of all elections. They ore q
great power for evil If so disposed. and equally
. great power for good II they desire to be.
They are most likely to do their duty faithfully
and impartially on such occasions whom or
basis, particularly when they act In
aid and as Q part of q non-partisan election. In
addition, their duty OF preserving the peace and
protecting. the rights Of person and property
makes II improper to involve them In politics
not In the sarna degree, but in the same sense
that 1t would be to similarly involve the judic
iary. 1t is hoped, therefore, that no changes
will be made In any of these statutes, except such
rs experience may show are necessary to make
them more effcient
1t has been currently reported in the news
papers and otherwise that an effort will be made
tion touching municipal government generally
and affecting the city Of Cincinnati particularly
This will bring before you for consideration q
very important subject.
In all that may be done o due regard should be
observed for the idea that, 80 far Us may be pos
nicipal corporation is the creature of the State
and SO far as legal right Is concerned, the State
may govern It in any way 1t may choose But
local self-government is the very genius oi
be deprived OF 1t except in extraordinary emer
gencies, such as existed at Cincinnati, to de
msnd and justify the legislation with respect to
the boards OF that city that was had at the last
session.
AS soon, therefore, as It may be found safe to
do 80, complete control Of their government in
cludng the selection of all their officials, should
be restored to the people Of that city. In this
way the responsibility for local government IL
placed, not only where 1t properly belongs, but
also where there is the highest interest to make
iteifcient In determining the kind OF municipal
hnrr g1,N t><